Rookie stars in Diamonds win

Test debutant Chelsea Pitman turned in a starring performance as Australia stormed home to beat arch-rivals New Zealand 52-47 in their opening netball Test in Palmerston North.

The 23-year-old Queensland Firebirds wing attack came into the fray at half-time, when the Diamonds trailed 29-26 and looked right at home on the international stage at Manuatu Arena.

Playing two Tests as the sides warm up for next month's world championship in Singapore where Australia will defend its title, the match was the usual brutal encounter between the top-ranked countries.

The Diamonds were down by six goals early in the third quarter in front of a packed house.

But the impact of Pitman, who replaced Kimberlee Green in the line-up, as well as 196-centimetre goalkeeper Susan Fuhrmann, who came on for Laura Geitz, was telling.

Pitman and goal attack Natalie Medhurst showed the value of their combination as team-mates in the Firebirds' team which recently won the trans-Tasman title.

Medhurst finished the match with 24 goals from 30 attempts, shooting at 80 per cent.

The Australians finished the third quarter trailing by just a goal 39-38 and completely outplayed the Silver Ferns in the final period for the solid victory.

Australian coach Norma Plummer was delighted with the performance of her new squad.

"Pitman's debut was fantastic and I certainly thought Fuhrmann closed up the gap for us down the back-end, she was also fantastic," Plummer said.

"Chelsea wasn't fazed at all and that's what you want, a cool head.

"She was able to make the right moves and open it up, she's physically strong and I thought she made our attack end so much better."

The Silver Ferns looked comfortable for the opening half, but could not respond as the Australians upped the ante.

They missed Casey Williams' defence in the goal circle, with the skipper still recovering from a calf strain.

Australian goal defence Julie Corletto was named player of match, which was remarkable in her first Test in almost two years following knee surgery.

The battle between Diamonds' hard-running wing defence Mo'onia Gerrard and Ferns wing attack Temepara George was absorbing, with both left sprawled on the court as they fiercely fought for the ball.

The home side's intensity fell away when George was rested, which they were unable to recover from.

Plummer said there was still plenty of room for improvement, while she intended to give more players in her squad a run in their second and final Test in Auckland on Sunday.

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